OUR VIEW: Honoring a native son

Naval aviator Thomas Hudner Jr. returned to his native Fall River on Saturday, where he was the guest of honor at a luncheon aboard the Battleship Massachusetts on Armed Forces Day. Hudner, 87, is among fewer than 100 living Medal of Honor winners. Soon, the Navy’s most state-of-the-art Tomahawk guided-missile destro...

Known to friends as “Lou,” Hudner attended Highland Elementary School and Morton Junior High School in Fall River before he went to preparatory school in Andover and later the Naval Academy to launch his distinguished military career. The Concord resident recalled the day that as a city youngster, he learned about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. “It was the start of a complete change in living,” he said.

Hudner received the Medal of Honor from President Harry S Truman on April 13, 1951, for his efforts crashing his plane in North Korea on Dec. 4, 1950 in an unsuccessful attempt to save the life of a fellow pilot, who had been hit by enemy fire. “The whole notion of duty and honor is really exemplified by his story and vision,” said Navy League President John H. Lind.

During Saturday’s luncheon event, Hudner shared his story of the harrowing Korean War experience, in which he landed his plane in the mountainous terrain in 35-degree-below-zero conditions with two feet of snow in an attempt to save Ensign Jesse L. Brown, the first black Navy aviator to fly in combat.

Hudner said Brown was the “epitome of a good pilot and probably the greatest letter-writer on the ship.” Despite Hudner’s heroic efforts to try to save the pilot, military officials made the decision to napalm the two planes so the enemy would not find the aircraft. “We had to leave him there,” Hudner said.

In recognition of Hudner’s heroics, the next new Navy destroyer, USS Thomas Hudner, will bear his name. In another honor to Hudner’s exemplary military career and his prestigious status as a national war hero, the Navy sent an MH60 Jayhawk jet flyover above the battleship Saturday.

The hometown hero was also presented with a key to the city and a citation from Mayor Will Flanagan to honor the naming of the USS Thomas Hudner. He was also presented with a navy blue and gold cap with the words USS Thomas Hudner.

The Massachusetts Bay Council Navy League, which held the luncheon in Hudner’s honor, is also making a donation to the New England Center for Homeless Veterans in his honor. Saturday’s event aboard the battleship was a fitting tribute to this city native who takes his place in history and makes Fall River proud.